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The Search for Lake Superior State University’s Next President

The Board of Trustees of Lake Superior State University convened on Friday, May 5, 2023 to begin the search for Lake State’s next president. This webpage will include the presidential prospectus, search updates, search timeline, search committee members, a constituent survey for LSSU stakeholders to fill out, and related information for this important undertaking.

In mid-July, the Board of Trustees chose Storbeck Search, a leading executive search firm in the education sector for decades, to facilitate the presidential search, after interviewing representatives from select firms that had completed a Request for Proposal. Storbeck Search Managing Director Julie Tea and Senior Associate Brian Bustin are assisting Lake State throughout the search process, from soliciting input from LSSU constituents and holding related listening sessions to recruiting, evaluating, and interviewing candidates, and more.

On May 9, 2023, Board 1st Vice Chair and Presidential Search Committee Chair Cynthia Williams sent an email to the LSSU community to officially launch the search for LSSU’s next permanent president. It’s excerpted below. To read the entire email, click on the “Update 1” blue box.

The deadline to complete the electronic constituent survey is Friday, Sept. 15 @ noon. Responses are anonymous and will be collated by Storbeck Search.



Search Committee
Position Profile
Search Committee
Charge
LSSU Constituent
Survey

May 9, 2023
Update from the Chair of the Presidential Search Committee Cynthia K. Williams (excerpted)

Dear Students, Faculty, and Staff:

The Board of Trustees met Friday, May 5, 2023, to embark on the process of recruiting the next president of Lake Superior State University with the goal of having the next president in place as soon as is practical while emphasizing the importance of a thorough search process.

The Board intends for the search process to engage the broader LSSU community and public at large. …

As the assistance of a presidential search consultant is required for the completion of a timely, professional and effective presidential search, the Board chair shall assure that the university undertakes a competitive solicitation process to secure a contract with such a consultant. …

The Board directs the Board chair to establish a Presidential Search Committee to organize and undertake a search process. The Board chair will appoint the members of the Presidential Search Committee, which shall include representatives of the university and the community at large. …

The presidential search committee will be responsible for working with the search consultant to adopt a leadership profile and position description for the position of president, for reviewing applicants to determine qualified candidates, for interviewing and ultimately recommending a short list of the most qualified candidates to the Board of Trustees.

The Board commits to updating the LSSU community on progress at regular intervals throughout the search process and seeking input whenever possible. …

Best Regards,

Cindy

Update 1
5/9/23
Update 2
5/11/23
Update 3
7/12/23
Update 4
7/31/23
Update 5
8/18/23
Update 6
8/25/23
Update 7
9/27/23
Update 8
10/20/23
Update 9
11/29/23
Update 10
1/22/24
Update 11
2/22/24

LSSU Presidential Search Timeline


  • May

    LSSU Board of Trustees takes initial steps to launch presidential search process and names search committee

  • July

    LSSU Board of Trustees selects Storbeck Search to facilitate the presidential search process

  • August

    Search firm interviews key personnel, Constituent Survey and LSSU Presidential website launched

  • Early September

    Campus interviews as well as listening sessions with campus constituents

  • September 15th

    Deadline to submit constituent survey by noon

  • Late September

    Position profile finalized and Storbeck begins to build candidate pool

  • Mid-October

    Review of candidates begins

  • November

    List of potential finalists prepared and first round interviews conducted

  • December

    Referencing

  • January

    Finalist interviews

  • February

    Board selects LSSU’s next President

About LSSU

Lake Superior State University offers 35 bachelor’s degree programs, 21 associate degree programs, and 10 certificate programs. Surrounded by three Great Lakes, LSSU provides an unsurpassed location for research, innovation, and real-world experiences. Lake State is one of Michigan’s most affordable public universities, and 90 percent of full-time students receive financial aid. LSSU competes in 11 NCAA Division II sports and in Division I for men’s hockey. Lake State has approximately 1,600 undergraduate students, with 82 percent coming from Michigan, and with every county represented. LSSU was founded in 1946 in Sault Ste. Marie, the oldest city in Michigan (1668), on the site of the former U.S. Army’s Fort Brady, and has regional centers in Escanaba and Petoskey.

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